tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post7874896352808558370..comments2015-09-04T12:33:11.606-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: A Query Letter by Gail OustBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-25253075765556697142009-01-27T14:08:00.000-05:002009-01-27T14:08:00.000-05:00On 10:32 AM, January 22, 2009 Anonymous said... ...On 10:32 AM, January 22, 2009 Anonymous said...<BR/><BR/><I> Is "died" in the wool here a joke? (The saying is "dyed in the wool.")</I><BR/><BR/>I caught that too. Unless someone in the story literally "died in the wool", that's the sort of mistake that completely ruins a story for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-49422065043211871062009-01-26T00:31:00.000-05:002009-01-26T00:31:00.000-05:00I read your post on marketing, and I'm very discou...I read your post on marketing, and I'm very discouraged. According to it I have very little chance of catching the eye of a literay agent, much less a publisher.<BR/> I have a high school education, and this is the first thing I've written so I have absolutley nothing published.<BR/> It seems such a shame that a writer is judged on how well known they are verses talent and quality of writing.<BR/> Do I have any chance of finding a literary agent, or am I headed for self publishing?Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09810687984320763742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-34975724516888252732009-01-24T22:13:00.000-05:002009-01-24T22:13:00.000-05:00Thank you for doing this series. I can see why my ...Thank you for doing this series. I can see why my query might read as a piece of cardboard: no voice and too business-like. And yet... <BR/>Thanks also for teaching me to include part of the initial query when I receive requested materials. I hadn't thought of that, and I may have shot my chance at a really good agent because I didn't remind him of me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-83189909773818961202009-01-23T19:31:00.000-05:002009-01-23T19:31:00.000-05:00I'm not an expert on romances since I don't read t...I'm not an expert on romances since I don't read them, but it seems many of the prolific romance authors use a lot of cliches in their writing...how else can they write 4-6 books a year? I'm sure many mystery authors et al are guilty of that as well...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-24509688196585341572009-01-22T16:21:00.000-05:002009-01-22T16:21:00.000-05:00Wow, what a great story, Jessica. I've always wond...Wow, what a great story, Jessica. I've always wondered if agents think to call up a writer they've rejected but the material presented at the time wasn't working, for whatever reason. Very cool that you did that with this book and this author.<BR/><BR/>Deb, yes, agents will look at proposals rather than full manuscripts from published authors. It depends on the agent, and it probably depends on the project as well. In other words, it depends.Cindy Procter-Kinghttp://www.museinterrupted.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-46127454346726188742009-01-22T16:06:00.000-05:002009-01-22T16:06:00.000-05:00To all the anons. I think at the end of the day y...To all the anons. I think at the end of the day you can only take in so much information. Everything in this business is incredibly subjective. You have to learn to listen to your gut and keep your voice pure. If you try to apply everything that you think is correct, from what you hear on all of these various threads you'll lose your voice, and I think that voice is what's going to sell you in the end!Juliana Stonehttp://www.julianastone.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-77760326266428733412009-01-22T15:16:00.000-05:002009-01-22T15:16:00.000-05:00This is why I decided to post these letters, to sh...This is why I decided to post these letters, to show you how different and varied query letters can be and to show you how easily rules can be broken, but a letter can still be acceptable. Write the letter in your voice. Write a letter that resonate and write a letter that works for you. Agents do not read letters to pick them apart. We do not read them even remotely as carefully as you're reading these. We skim them and hope they scream at us to slow down and read more carefully. It is then that we ask for more material.<BR/><BR/>--jhfBookEnds, LLChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-11508681041471409952009-01-22T15:02:00.000-05:002009-01-22T15:02:00.000-05:00Anon 1:22, I often do the same thing you're doing....Anon 1:22, I often do the same thing you're doing. In my own humble opinion, I think we need to just write our hearts out (cliche), get the story down, find our voice, edit until we're satisfied, and THEN maybe try to weed out little no-no's like cliches, etc. When I try to keep all these rules in mind while I'm writing, it reminds me of a golf lesson I once received where the instructor said, do this, and this and this and this (you get the idea). Okay, now swing. Someone else advised that I not think at all, just keep my eye on the ball and swing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-44036769148491625002009-01-22T14:47:00.000-05:002009-01-22T14:47:00.000-05:00The letter is great, the story charming, but I am ...The letter is great, the story charming, but I am surprised you did not comment on all the cliches (dyed-in-the-wool, jumps at the chance, anything but, etc.) Cliche writing does not seem to hurt John Grisham, so this may not be an issue. I mistakenly believed agents pushed the EJECT button when they saw this stuff, though. Please instruct if you have a chance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-91528707287421732782009-01-22T13:22:00.000-05:002009-01-22T13:22:00.000-05:00I want to know if I am the only person doing this....I want to know if I am the only person doing this. I read so and so's query letter critique and find out they don't like certain hooks. So I rush and change things. Then I go on someone else's contest find out they don't like cliches? (Exactly what are all of the cliches? because I don't know.) So I wipe out all my dreams, etc. Then I go on someone else's blog find out so and so has lost their voice. Guess waht? You got it. Then someone doesn't like certain descriptive words. You guessed it. Then I come back to Jessica's and find out she loves all of the things I have just removed!!! or at least it appears that way. I am thinking I am hurting myself and going to end up sounding just like everyone else when I write!! And I seriously doubt if I am the only person doing this. I would guess anyone submitting their work to be judged (or as in my case just reading the results of those contests and queries) are going to end up very similiar to each other. After all the results are the opinions of one person. And sounding like everyone else, that is bad, right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-74219613515509132572009-01-22T12:10:00.000-05:002009-01-22T12:10:00.000-05:00I like the fact that you were willing to offer an ...I like the fact that you were willing to offer an alternate hook, and let the author rework the story. I would pray for that opportunity if my manuscript was smidge from tipping the scale.<BR/><BR/>Again, thank you for the insight and help.<BR/><BR/>CravenCravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430626765231636800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-7188577614590369402009-01-22T11:30:00.000-05:002009-01-22T11:30:00.000-05:00Thanks for the advice Anon. We are starting a crit...Thanks for the advice Anon. We are starting a critic group here in the next month or so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-91213307738189761532009-01-22T11:09:00.000-05:002009-01-22T11:09:00.000-05:00Anon,My first try at a query was a few months ago....Anon,<BR/><BR/>My first try at a query was a few months ago. I listened to the advice of dozens of other writers and sources, and I know they all meant well, but I ended up with more rejections that I would like to admit. I put the letter away for a month or so, and came back to it. It was clear that my voice had been erased, and the hook was buried. So I see why it didn't work out. I suggest working with a few writers that know your story when seeking help for the query.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-83990360439924123342009-01-22T10:55:00.000-05:002009-01-22T10:55:00.000-05:00Crimogenic,I sensing you are a 100% right. I think...Crimogenic,<BR/><BR/>I sensing you are a 100% right. I think in our quest to be perfect, we are making ourselves boring. I am also thinking that maybe I am overloading myself with too many conflicting tips from too many resources. I read my letter the other day that I thought was exactly what everyone wanted, and then read one of my originals. Guess what, I liked my original better. I could hear my voice in the original a lot clearer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-42900434071811202692009-01-22T10:48:00.000-05:002009-01-22T10:48:00.000-05:00Jessica,Again these queries are so helpful! I'm w...Jessica,<BR/><BR/>Again these queries are so helpful! I'm working on my query, and these example are priceless. They are so different and unique. Good to see that some aren't perfect, but the hook was key. As newies, we stress and stress over the perfect query.... but I'm not sure if there is such a thing. Good to know. :)Crimogenichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10011023963327391019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-84789460061240320462009-01-22T10:46:00.000-05:002009-01-22T10:46:00.000-05:00The title thing. I'm beginning to get a sense that...The title thing. I'm beginning to get a sense that more often than not a title is changed. Am I right assuming this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-34079463098572020662009-01-22T10:32:00.000-05:002009-01-22T10:32:00.000-05:00Is "died" in the wool here a joke? (The saying is...Is "died" in the wool here a joke? (The saying is "dyed in the wool.")Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-67394134640991832032009-01-22T10:03:00.000-05:002009-01-22T10:03:00.000-05:00The query letters that were in response to request...The query letters that were in response to requested material are basically a clone of the original query. The only change is, typically, the line where the author reminds me that the material was requested.<BR/><BR/>Published authors can often sell on proposal and rarely need a full manuscript. There are also no cardinal rules.BookEnds, LLChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-58446627319589873822009-01-22T09:29:00.000-05:002009-01-22T09:29:00.000-05:00I have a question - this and at least one other pr...I have a question - this and at least one other previous one said that it had been requested based on an earlier query. <BR/><BR/>What was the earlier query? Was it the basic letter that most writers only send first? How many writers make it to the stage these queries are actually for? Or is the "request" from the email query something else? <BR/><BR/>@Deb, I always thought it was only unpubbed writers who need to have the novel finished, to prove that they can actually finish it and write something coherent.Jesshttp://www.jessicatudor.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-91051241267228135482009-01-22T08:59:00.001-05:002009-01-22T08:59:00.001-05:00This one's especially interesting for me, consider...This one's especially interesting for me, considering how many elements aren't quite perfect, but that the letter ended up getting the author representation anyway. Thanks for doing this series!Heidi C. Vlachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11865524260060421873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-15774410623309836012009-01-22T08:59:00.000-05:002009-01-22T08:59:00.000-05:00Jessica,I'm surprised you requested a manuscript t...Jessica,<BR/><BR/>I'm surprised you requested a manuscript that wasn't finished. For fiction, I thought the #1 rule is don't query agents until the book is done. Was this because she was a previously published author?<BR/><BR/>Debdebrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15825531924522383449noreply@blogger.com